Union for the Mediterranean!

Yesterday, a new union was born to this world. Instead of speculating about the ill fate awaiting this union, let's just be optimistic for a second and look at its chances of success. The last thing the world needs right now is another useless union.

This new baby was part of Sarkozy's election campaign. And even before seeing the light, the then proposed union was met with objections from some parts in the north and the south of the Mediterranean sea. While the only south objection came from Libya (a country whose leader is famous of objecting just for the sake of gaining more publicity), the north's objections were even more bizarre; they came mainly from Germany which is not even part of the Mediterranean culture (if we can call it that way) and asked for the inclusion of all 27 EU members!

So here we came to the modified version of the union with most of the European countries along with some Arab countries and Israel as part of it. While it is obviously no more about the Mediterranean, this regional union brings together extremely diverse cultures; the north and the south.

So what are the chances of such a union to succeed?

I think that the answer of this question depends on what kind of success we are hoping for. I would consider removing the pollution from the Mediterranean sea as a huge success. A more optimistic person may think that it will enhance trade, stop illegal immigration, or maybe even reducing the gap between the north and the south in all areas. An extremely optimistic person may think it could help to bring peace to the most troubled region in the world.

Back to reality, I don't believe there's much room for improvement except for, maybe, environmental and trade issues. I also hope that it may improve the human rights record in some countries, but that's all. The only way for the success of such a union is to have realistic goals and to work steadily to achieve them without much propaganda (less meetings and fewer cameras). Adding a list of impossible goals will just undermine its credibility.

Building bridges between the east and the west is always a welcomed step. The newly born Union for the Mediterranean may seem very small next to greater unions like the UN (both in scale and value), but at least this time all parties are equal; there's no vetoes, there's no permanent and non-permanent members and, more importantly, there's no USA.

Watch: Kung Fu Panda

Taking place in China, the movie tells a story of a Panda (Po) who aspires to be a Kung Fu warrior. Po works in a noodle restaurant with his father (Mr. Ping) who wants Po to succeed him in managing the restaurant, but wants to be sure that he's ready to be given the secret ingredient. Po keeps his dreams for himself, but his desire to be a Kung Fu warrior is to big to be hidden. So when the opportunity comes, will Po be able to seize it?

From the movies title it is really easy to know that Po will seize this opportunity, the question is how? But what's more important is that from this moment in the movie, all the fun begins. I went to this movie with not very high expectations having been disappointed by many of the previous Dreamworks 3D animated movies (Shrek 2 - Shark Tale - Madagascar). I also thought that the movie would be very childish (something like Hoodwinked) and may not be enjoyable by adults (I am 23). However, it was really enjoyable for most of the time, and I had some pretty good laughs every know and then.

The concept of the film is fine. A Panda playing Kung Fu may sound a little like a Rat who is cooking, but repitition is something we are used to in animated feature films (AntZ & A Bug's Life, The Wild & Madagascar, Shark Tale & Finding Nemo), at least this time they were two different animals! The message within the movie (moral lesson) was also done before in some animated movies, but nevertheless it perfectly fits the story line.

The characters design is the best aspect of the movie IMO. While most of the attention is given to the Panda and its struggle with its heavy weight, the movie is rich with a variety of characters that range from the old and wise tortoise Kung Fu master (Ogoway) to the snow leopard villain (Tai Lung) passing through a tiger, a monkey, a green tree viper, a praying mantis and a Japanese crane. Did I mention that Po's father is a goose?!

Kung Fu Panda is a fairly enjoyable CGI movie. Its main audience is of course kids, but if you're an adult who love animated movies, you'll most propably like it.

Technicality:

• Amazing traditionally animated intro.
• Nothing exceptional in the voice acting, maybe except for Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).
• Cartoonish character design that goes well with the theme of the movie.
• The music seemed to be nice, but I could hardly hear it in most parts of the movies (well...except for the intro and the casting).
• Progress of events is mantained throughout the movie which makes it far more enjoyable than some previous Dreamworks CGI movies.
  

My Score:4/5

Animated Shorts Academy Nominations

Each year at the same time I am waiting eagerly to know to whom the Oscars go; not in the best actors categories, nor the best picture, director, but for the best animated short film. This category, which is hardly mentioned before and after the ceremony, is the most one that attracts my attention, and that's because of many reasons.

Firstly, the films are really short which means that you can watch them all together in a far less time than feature films. Secondly, shorts are usually more hard to do than the feature films; it is harder to find a short appealing story, it is harder to leave a lasting impression from a movie that usually doesn't exceed the half hour mark. Thirdly, these are shorts and animations, so it is very easy for many to neglect them, and indeed they are neglected by many.

This year's nominations come from different countries and with different styles and genres.

1- I Met The Walrus

A short animation about an interview that John Lennon did with a 14 years old boy in 1969. The film is made by simply drawn illustrations which go along with Lennon's speech and contains many symbolism. That 14 years old boy is now 53 and he's the producer of I Met The Walrus.

Website: www.imetthewalrus.com
Country: Canada
Technique: Handdrawings, 2D.
Runtime: 5 min.
Trailer:

2- Madame Tutli-Putli

A stop motion accompanied by real eyes integration into the main characters, the film is visually impressive. Along with its original music and story, that's propably what granted it a nomination. Madame Tutli-Putli is in a journey both in reality and in her imagination. While travelling in a train, she's also confrontin her demons.

Website: www.nfb.ca/webextension/madame-tutli-putli/
Country: Canada
Technique: Stop Motion
Runtime: 17 min.
Trailer:

3- Même les pigeons vont au paradis (aka. Even Pigeons Go To Heaven)

An ironic 3D short film about a priest who races death to reach an old man and to sell to him a machine that will transport him into paradise before he dies. Death, faith and salesmen attitudes, all are combined in this beautiful short film.

Website: www.buf.com
Country: France
Technique: CGI
Runtime: 9 min.
Trailer: http://www.samueltourneux.com/PAGE1/page1.html

4- Moya Iyobov (aka. My Love)

The most eye-catching of them all, this short film has its unique style. Aleksander Petrov's paint-on-glass technique, together with the romantic story and the russian atmosphere, makes this movie a serious contender for the award. It is worth to mention that Petrov already won an Oscar in 1999 for his short paint-on-glass animated film The Old Man And The Sea.

Website: www.dago.ru
Country: Russia
Technique: Paint-On-Glass
Runtime: 26 min.
Trailer:

5- Peter & The Wolf

The classic fable about the fearless child set to Prokofiev's musical score, this movie is a combination of three different techniques producing a unique looking version of the story.

Website: www.breakthrufilms.co.uk/peterandthewolffilm/index.html
Country: Russia
Technique: CGI, Puppets, and Stop Motion.
Runtime: 33 min.
Trailer: http://www.breakthrufilms.co.uk/peterandthewolffilm/trailer.html

My Opinion: Once again this category proves to be the richest when it comes to creativity and techniques. With the absence of Pixar's shorts, it was an empty seat for others to be nominated, specially that there's not a single American film in this category this year. With the exception of Even Pigeons Can Go To Heaven, all the shorts well deserve the nominations (IMO). If you want to watch the films yourself just do a search in YouTube; most if not all of them are available there.

Predictions: I always suck at predictions, but for me it is either I Met The Walrus, or My Love; both movies truly stand out from the others. However, I think I Met The Walrus will eventually be the winner.

Watch: Spiritualized

Spiritualized is a short animated 2D movie, done by the Vancouver Film School, directed and written by Roy Margalit. The movie talks about a somewhat naive guy who think that through the power of prayers, he can achieve true divinity. That's why he tries to find the true religion through try and error.

The most powerful thing about this short movie is its concept. It draws a comparison between that naive guy and another one who seems to know the true meaning of spirituality. It criticizes the laziness of those, who think that prayers can do miracles, in a very gentle and beautiful way, and without being directly judgemental.


Technicality:

• The animation is very smooth.
• The character design is very unique and simple.
• The music suits the movie well, and it truly reflects the theme of the movie.
• The blue color is dominant in this movie with most of the elements done in blue and white (the blue color is very calm and peaceful, and sometimes it was used to represent peace and spirituality).

My Score: 5/5

Surf: Jamendo

If you like to listen to and download free legal music, Jamendo is certainely the place to be. With around 4000 albums from all over the world, you can listen to music from this extensive library for all day.

The site is relatively old, and I'm relatively new to it; so there's still many things for me to explore. However, from what I know, there's music of every kind from all around the world. And there seems to be a similar community of music enthusiasts.

One of the main options of this site is your ability to write reviews, share the music, and send recommendations. The searching function also is very easy to use and gives you customization capabilities in order to limit your searches when needed. There are also different ways to download including torrents, and you can listen to all the ablums online. And there's a load of tools that can be integrated within your blog or website to show off your favorite music.

All the music offered on Jamendo is for free, however, the license of usage may vary from one album to another. Just be sure whether the album is for commercial or non commercial usage before including the music in one of your projects, and try to read the terms of usage carefully.

Jamendo may not include big names of shining stars, but it is for sure full of hidden gems. Just keep exploring and you'll find great musical talents who are yet to be well known.

http://www.jamendo.com/

14th of July (Bastille Day)

Each year, on the 14th of July, France remembers the fall of the Bastille back in 1789. This prison was considered a symbol of tyranny and injustice: the same reasons that led to the French revolution.

Before the revolution, the French society was divided into two parts: the first consisting mainly of the nobility and the clergy who were both rich, and the second part was mainly the common people who suffered poverty and famine. A society so divided like that, was ready for a revolution.

It was the financial crises of the country, the spending of the aristocrats, and the increasing taxes upon the common people, that probably sparked the beginning of this revolution. After some political stand offs within the country, anarchy prevailed.

The fall of the Bastille was a symbol of defeat of tyranny and injustice, however, the revolution brought more tyranny and injustice in its first years. Many people were butchered in prisons, while many others were guillotined (some based only on suspicion). It was a period of time called the 'reign of terror', in which violence was considered as the only way to save the revolution. This form of anarchy continued until Napoleon Bonaparte was able to restore order within the country.

One may ask, was all this violence inevitable? Looking at the facts, we will find that many of these death were based upon mere revenge. Many of those who ordered others to be guillotined, were themselves guillotined by others when they were out of power. This kind of extremism was the main reason of the terror; it deviated the revolution from its original track which was to bring justice.

While remembering the 14th of July, one may only relate what happened within the first years of the French revolution with what is happening in the world today. There's no way better to explain this except by using the words of Madame Roland when she was about to be guillotined:

"O Liberté, que de crimes on commet en ton nom! "
(Oh Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name!)

Why the Spotless Giraffe?!

Giraffes are unique animals, with their looks, their long necks, their circulatory system, extremely long tongue, silence, and their spots. They may look so peaceful, but still, they are so powerful. With their extremely tall neck, they can look at far distances, exploring large areas, and monitoring the surroundings for enemies. While, with their extremely tall tongues, they can clear their faces from all the bugs.

That's why a spotless giraffe is a symbol of uniqueness, peace, wisedome, and power. It is the message which I will try to show here on this blog through writing on different subjects. In a cyberspace full of millions of blogs, it's hard to think about making a new one. However, with this kind of message, I realized that it's better to have my own space to put my thoughts in. It's never about the number of readers, it's always about the content.

Most of the subject will be about areas of my interests. From animation to politics, and from religion to science; always in a lighthearted way. This is not a specialized blog, it's a general blog. So if anyone is interested, all comments on all posts are welcomed (positive or negative). As I said before, one reader to me is the same as 100. The most important thing is that someone may find this blog useful.